He says the redeye is very different than the other basses and fills out its niche through its habitat. Their color lightens to a brownish white color on the belly. Bass, Smallmouth Smallmouth bass are usually bronze to brownish green, with dark vertical bars on their sides. Both were 7 to 8 inches, average specimens. Their long, slender body is a mixture of dark bronze and olive green with pale bellies. Once the water temperatures have warmed up to between 63 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, it happens. The Redeye Bass. The largest shoals are around 9 pounds and can be found up to two feet long, although between 1 and 1 ½ feet is more common. John Sieweke 1,829 views The dorsal fin contains nine to 11 (usually 10) spines and 11 to 13 (usually 12) rays, and the area between the two is only slightly notched. Ironically a friend of mine, a few lakes over, caught this largemouth. The scales below the lateral line each have a “spot” on them and thus their name the Spotted Bass. When we spoke to Dr. Steve Sammons, a local angler and research fellow at Auburn University, he wasn't surprised to hear we couldn't manage a 12-inch redeye … and he quickly suggested the bar was set too high. Bass Pro Shops is your trusted source for quality fishing, hunting, boating and outdoor sporting goods. The smallies on the other hand, have that long stocky bass look of course... always noticiably longer than they are deep... even the small ones. The smallmouth bass has a distinctive red eye and a series of vertical bands on its sides. So, rotate between a few favorite lures to see what they will bite on that particular day. Suwannee and shoal bass also have bright red eyes but do not possess the same amount of red coloration on their fins. The key to finding and catching these shallow fall bass is to cover lots of water, and a lipless crankbait is a great tool to do just that. The scales below the lateral line each have a “spot” on them and thus their name the Spotted Bass. Smallmouth are often found in bodies of water that contain deep, clear water with rocks or boulders on the bottom. Other names for this species include red eye, bronze back, and black bass. Habitat. Other names for Smallmouth Bass include Bareback Bass, Brown Bass, Green Trout, Red Eye, and Smallie. Larger and tougher than Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass can put up quite a fight once hooked. On a smallmouth bass, the jaw will not extend past the center of the eye of the fish. With all bass fishing, so much of the joy is found spending time on the lakes and rivers. The iris blends with the gold backing to create a spectacular live freshwater fish look. A red eye bass is like a normal fish. Consider asking around your fishing buddies to see if anyone knows someone down in Georgia. The anal fin contains three spines and nine to 11 (usually 10) rays. Redeye bass detest lake life, instead opting for the cooler temperatures – in the low to mid-60s – found in the fast-moving water of streams and rivers. If you can’t find those, practice your finesse fishing and cast near some overhanging trees or bushes without getting caught. Supposedly it was caught in Florida, although there are many critics of this mysterious catch. Redeye Bass Club is established to provide the opportunity for its members to learn and enjoy the sport of bass … They can be found from northeastern Mississippi to northwest Georgia, with the greatest concentration in north Alabama and into southern Tennessee. Red eyes rarely get that large. Get best fishing times with lunar fishing calendars. It has a chamber in it with a single tungsten ball that bangs against each side as the bait vibrates side to … The rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), also known as the rock perch, goggle-eye, red eye, is a freshwater fish native to east-central North America.This red eyed creature is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes and can be distinguished from other similar species by the six spines in the anal fin (other sunfish have only three anal fin spines). Not all redeyes have red eyes. Red Eye Bass Club, York County, PA, York County. Description – The red color of eyes and fins easily separates this species from other bass. I have caught smallmouth that have had prominent markings on their sides, others … By spending a few minutes to read the river, you’ll be able to take an educated guess about where they are hiding and striking. After you’ve caught a few that are worth keeping, you might be wondering if these fish are tasty. These fish are a little finicky with their water choice but are well worth the fight and search. Bundled up, frosty breath clouding the air — don’t think the big biters won’t show themselves during winter’s chill. Required fields are marked *. The Redeye Bass has been documented to hybridize with native smallmouth bass M. dolomieu in parts of Tennessee, including the Ocoee and Obed systems in the Tennessee drainage and Roaring Fork system in the Cumberland drainage (Turner 1989; Turner et al. If a questionable bass doesn't have red eyes, don't discount it, either. Big difference is rockbass are shaped like a sunfish. Reddish eyes (but several other bass species, including smallmouth bass and spotted bass, may also have red eyes) Rows of dark spots on the lower sides and there may be a row of diamond shaped bars along the midline; Strongly patterned with irregular blotching along the back; Upper jaw extends to the middle of the eye; 9-11 dorsal and 3 anal spines Well there is a type of bass called a RED EYE bass along with several other species which have red eyes here is a link thathas a in detail description of 4 kinds of bass that have red eyes. They prefer natural baits, such as crickets, over lures. The jaw extends to the middle of their red eye and they have a poorly separated dorsal fin between spiny and soft-rayed portions. M… These fish start to spawn between April and May, although some will go into June. The lines on the sides of a smallmouth bass … A bass with red eyes doesn't necessarily mean you have a redeye. johnnyg105. In Georgia, check out these public spots on your search: Keep in mind that many of the small rivers and streams that redeye reside will be on private land. bronzeback, red eye, black bass Identification: The smallmouth bass is most often bronze to brownish green with dark vertical bars on its sides. These eyes are competition quality at a price that makes … Common meals for them include crayfish, small fish, nightcrawlers, leaf and red worms, and a variety of insects on the surface of the stream or river. This total shall not exceed more than the limits or exceptions listed below. AND IT HAS RED EYES! Their spunky attitude makes them a joy and thrill to fish in the streams and rivers of the southern United States. Humminbird vs Lowrance: Who Makes The Better Fish Finder? Their spunky attitude makes them a joy and thrill to fish in the streams and rivers of the southern United States. If you are introducing someone new to the sport, consider a simple afternoon of still fishing. Somewhat smaller than the largemouth, smallmouth bass in Oregon may reach 23 inches and exceed 7 pounds. The end of the jaw typically reaches to the center of the eye. March 25, 2008 at 1:54 pm #1320781. Hi Tevor, smallmouth bass commonly have red iris’s, but they can also be brown in color. Each angler will have a unique set of challenges in completing the BASS Slam, but there may be one common frustration: the redeye bass. An easy way to tell the smallmouth bass from its largemouth cousin is by looking at the position of the eye. Males in the height spawning season may have a blue or green tinge to their head, neck, and throat. The best identifier is the fins. The redeye or Coosa bass is an elongate, slender fish with a large mouth that extends to or slightly behind the rear margin of the eye. In some locations, it has a red eye. Consider starting with a four-inch finesse worm and working from there. "If you look at these things, they look like nothing you've ever seen. In South Carolina, the supposed world record was caught by angler Randy Dixon who apparently grabbed a 5-pound, 2.5-ounce one on Lake Jocassee with a Texas-rigged Zoom worm. On a spotted bass, the mouth hinge lines up vertically with the back edge of the eye; on a smallmouth bass, the mouth hinge vertically lines up in front of the back edge of the eye; and on a largemouth bass, the mouth hinge vertically lines up behind the back edge of the eye. While this is a characteristic, many spotted bass and smallmouth have red eyes, as well. Common Names: Smallmouth, Bronzeback, Brown Bass, Brownie, Smallie, Bronze Bass, Bareback Bass, Sally Smallmouth bass may have vertical stripes on the side of the body. As a third-generation angler, he as a plethora of knowledge and experience on the water and loves sharing what he knows. Overall the redeye bass generally has a brownish green color and vertical bars with light centers along their sides. I've always said they're the brook trout of bass; you admire how pretty they are and don't worry about the size.". The smallies on the other hand, have that long stocky bass look of course... always noticiably longer than they are deep... even the small ones. Habitat. These fish are driven by instinct and love to ambush their prey. 1 in-line spinner into the fastest moving areas of a shoal I can find.". The jaw is shorter then a Largemouth Bass but longer then a Smallmouth Bass and runs almost to the rear of the eye. Lastly, make sure to switch up your bait if they’re not biting consistently. The March Brown Odyssey. As you toss deeper into the debris, rocks, or inlet, you will hopefully find the sweet spot. Redeye bass are small in size, and they feed on similarly small things too. The red eye bass is a very unique species of bass only found in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. The redeye or Coosa bass is an elongate, slender fish with a large mouth that extends to or slightly behind the rear margin of the eye. My go-to bait now is the 1/2-ounce Red Eye Shad in chrome Sexy Shad. This bass fishing wrapping paper features one North America's premier gamefish, the smallmouth bass. Unlike largemouth bass, the upper jaw extends only to the middle of the eyes, and the dorsal fin is continuous and not deeply notched. But, there are quite a few differences between these fish. The upper jaw does not extend beyond the eye. The jaw does not extend past the rear of the eye. Daily Limit: Statewide: 5. There are 13–15 soft rays in the dorsal fin. Smallmouth have red eyes too. However, there are a few spots that you don’t want to keep them, or you at least need to severely limit how much you eat, due to pollution in the water: At both Weiss Lake Lay Lake in Alabama, you’ll only want to eat one redeye a month because of the high levels of PCBs. I have caught smallmouth that have had prominent markings on their sides, others with very little markings on the sides of their bodies. They are a genetically distinct species but have yet to be officially recognized as such, which means they are not included in the 2009 version of the BASS Slam. You cannot identify a bass by the color of its eyes this link will show you the differences. The upper jaw of smallmouth bass extends to the middle of the eye. They may have a red tint to them and will have white margins, or edges. The redeye bass has a slender bronze-olive body that fades into white on the belly. Shoal bass also have red eyes and some reddish on their fins. Water clarity goes a long way in determining the coloration of fish. In order to count your catch, it must be at least 8 inches long and have verified pictures. Posts: 4,042. The smallmouth's coloration and hue may vary according to environmental variables such as water clarity or diet. This is a great time to tie on a Strike King Red Eye Shad and get cranking. The males will stick around after spawning to protect the nest and eggs, although the female is around as well. The Redeye Bass is an even more rare member of this fish species family. Devil bass. A single spine is found on each pelvic fin and on the front of the anal fin. Redeyes also have 12 rays on their dorsal fin with scales at their base. How smallmouth and rock bass have red eyes. Redeye bass are commonly found in rocky areas, deeper pools in creeks and smaller sized rivers that are close to the main channels of larger ones. The red color of the eyes and fins easily distinguish this species from other bass. The best identifier is the fins. They will build their nest by placing their lower jaw in the center and rotating around. Three distinct dark bars radiate from the eye. Regardless, springtime is when it happens. To nab a redeye steep shore banks: do you have a dark spot at the of... 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